Impaired bone microarchitecture in premenopausal women with acromegaly: the possible role of Wnt signaling

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula P B Silva ◽  
Rosa M R Pereira ◽  
Liliam Takayama ◽  
Clarissa G Borba ◽  
Felipe H Duarte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vertebral Fractures ◽  
Bone Microarchitecture ◽  
Premenopausal Women ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cortical Porosity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Pituitary Deficiency ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Wnt Inhibitors

Abstract Context Acromegaly can impair bone integrity, increasing the risk of vertebral fractures (VF). Objective To evaluate the impact of isolated GH/IGF-I hypersecretion on bone turnover markers,Wnt inhibitors, BMD, microarchitecture, bone strength and vertebral fractures in female patients with acromegaly (Acro), compared to healthy control group (HC). Design, setting, and patients Cross-sectional study including 83 premenopausal women without any pituitary deficiency:18 acromegaly in remission (AcroR), 12 in group with active acromegaly (AcroA) and 53 HC. Serum P1NP, β-CTX, osteocalcin, sclerostin and DKK1 were measured in blood samples. DXA, HR-pQCT and vertebral fractures evaluation were also assessed simultaneously. Main outcome and Results AcroA showed significantly lower sclerostin and higher DKK1 as compared to HC. On HR-pQCT of tibia and radius, Acro showed impairment of trabecular (area and trabecular number), increased cortical porosity and increased cortical area and cortical thickness compared to HC. The only significant correlation found with HR-pQCT parameters was a positive correlation between cortical porosity and serum DKK1 (R=0.45, P=0.044). Mild VF were present in approximately thirty percent of patients. Conclusions Eugonadal women with acromegaly without any pituitary deficiency showed increased cortical BMD, impairment of trabecular bone microstructure and increased VF. Sclerostin was not correlated with any HR-pQCT parameters, however DKK1 was correlated with cortical porosity in tibia (P=0.027). Additional studies are needed to clarify, the role of Wnt inhibitors on bone microarchitecture impairment in acromegaly.

scholarly journals Be Aware of Burnout! The Role of Changes in Academic Burnout in Problematic Facebook Usage among University Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 8055
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Tomaszek ◽  
Agnieszka Muchacka-Cymerman
Keyword(s):  
Regression Coefficient ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Academic Burnout ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Social Motive ◽  
Explained Variance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Most previous research has examined the relationship between FB addiction and burnout level by conducting cross-sectional studies. Little is known about the impact of changes in burnout on FB addiction in an educational context. Through a two-way longitudinal survey of a student population sample (N = 115), this study examined the influence of changes in academic burnout over time and FB motives and importance (measured at the beginning and the end of the semester) on FB intrusion measured at the end of the academic semester. The findings show that: (1) increases in cynicism and in FB motives and importance significantly predicted time2 FB intrusion; (2) FB importance enhanced the prediction power of changes in the academic burnout total score, exhaustion and personal inefficacy, and reduced the regression coefficient of changes in cynicism; (3) the interaction effects between FB social motive use and changes in academic burnout, as well as between FB importance and personal inefficacy and exhaustion, accounted for a significant change in the explained variance of time2 FB intrusion. About 20–30% of the variance in time2 FB intrusion was explained by all the examined variables and by the interactions between them. The results suggest that changes in academic burnout and FB motives and importance are suppressive variables, as including these variables in the regression model all together changed the significance of the relationship between independent variables and FB intrusion.

scholarly journals Factors associated with emotional exhaustion in healthcare professionals involved in the COVID-19 pandemic: an application of the job demands-resources model

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serena Barello ◽  
Rosario Caruso ◽  
Lorenzo Palamenghi ◽  
Tiziana Nania ◽  
Federica Dellafiore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Exhaustion ◽  
Patient Engagement ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Job Demands ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Personal Resources ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Purpose The purpose of the present cross-sectional study is to investigate the role of perceived COVID-19-related organizational demands and threats in predicting emotional exhaustion, and the role of organizational support in reducing the negative influence of perceived COVID-19 work-related stressors on burnout. Moreover, the present study aims to add to the understanding of the role of personal resources in the Job Demands-Resources model (JD-R) by examining whether personal resources—such as the professionals’ orientation towards patient engagement—may also strengthen the impact of job resources and mitigate the impact of job demands. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 532 healthcare professionals working during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. It adopted the Job-Demands-Resource Model to study the determinants of professional’s burnout. An integrative model describing how increasing job demands experienced by this specific population are related to burnout and in particular to emotional exhaustion symptoms was developed. Results The results of the logistic regression models provided strong support for the proposed model, as both Job Demands and Resources are significant predictors (OR = 2.359 and 0.563 respectively, with p < 0.001). Moreover, healthcare professionals’ orientation towards patient engagement appears as a significant moderator of this relationship, as it reduces Demands’ effect (OR = 1.188) and increases Resources’ effect (OR = 0.501). Conclusions These findings integrate previous findings on the JD-R Model and suggest the relevance of personal resources and of relational factors in affecting professionals’ experience of burnout.

scholarly journals Lower peripheral blood Toll-like receptor 3 expression is associated with an unfavorable outcome in severe COVID-19 patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Clara Saad Menezes ◽  
Alicia Dudy Müller Veiga ◽  
Thais Martins de Lima ◽  
Suely Kunimi Kubo Ariga ◽  
Hermes Vieira Barbeiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
World Health ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Pyrin Domain ◽  
Peripheral Blood Gene Expression ◽  
Severe Group ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe role of innate immunity in COVID-19 is not completely understood. Therefore, this study explored the impact of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on the expression of Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs) in peripheral blood cells and their correlated cytokines. Seventy-nine patients with severe COVID-19 on admission, according to World Health Organization (WHO) classification, were divided into two groups: patients who needed mechanical ventilation and/or deceased (SEVERE, n = 50) and patients who used supplementary oxygen but not mechanical ventilation and survived (MILD, n = 29); a control group (CONTROL, n = 17) was also enrolled. In the peripheral blood, gene expression (mRNA) of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9, retinoic-acid inducible gene I (RIGI), NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), interferon alpha (IFN-α), interferon beta (IFN-β), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interferon lambda (IFN-λ), pro-interleukin(IL)-1β (pro-IL-1β), and IL-18 was determined on admission, between 5–9 days, and between 10–15 days. Circulating cytokines in plasma were also measured. When compared to the COVID-19 MILD group, the COVID-19 SEVERE group had lower expression of TLR3 and overexpression of TLR4.

scholarly journals Arousability, Personality, and Decision-Making Ability in Dissociative Disorder

2021 ◽  
pp. 025371762098155
Author(s):  
Doyel Ghosh ◽  
Pritha Mukhopadhyay ◽  
Ishani Chatterjee ◽  
Prasanta Kumar Roy
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Iowa Gambling Task ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Reaction Time Task ◽  
Conversion Disorder ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Personality Disposition

Background: There is a gap in understanding the pathogenesis of dissociative conversion disorder (DCD), despite the disorder having a strong historical root. The role of personality and neurocognitive factors are now highlighted; however, inconsistencies are reported. This study explores the personality disposition, arousability, and decision-making ability of patients with DCD, in reference to a healthy control group (HCG). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the sample comprised ten adult psychiatric patients with DCD. Ten participants of the HCG were matched according to age, gender, education, economic status, domicile, religious background, and handedness. The study assessed personality disposition with Temperament and Character Inventory, arousability with reaction time task, and decision-making ability with the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT PEBL version). Results: The DCD group differed significantly on personality disposition related to both temperament and character. There was also evidence of easy arousability and frustration along with deficit in executive function related to decision-making ability. Conclusion: This study highlights the presence of both temperamental and characterological factors associated with DCD. Moreover, this study identifies the role of cognitive arousability and decision-making or feedback utilization ability in the psychopathology of DCD.

scholarly journals The effect of prophylactic bilateral salpingectomy on ovarian reserve in patients who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shizhuo Wang ◽  
Jiahui Gu
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Ovarian Reserve ◽  
Premenopausal Women ◽  
Laparoscopic Hysterectomy ◽  
Ovarian Tumors ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Bilateral Salpingectomy ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Bilateral salpingectomy has been proposed to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, but it is not clear whether the surgery affects ovarian reserve. This study compares the impact of laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign disease with or without prophylactic bilateral salpingectomy on ovarian reserve. Methods Records were reviewed for 373 premenopausal women who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy with ovarian reserve for benign uterine diseases. The serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and three-dimensional antral follicle count (AFC) were assessed before surgery and 3 and 9 months postoperatively to evaluate ovarian reserve. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they underwent prophylactic bilateral salpingectomy. The incidence of pelvic diseases was monitored until the ninth month after surgery. Results There was no significant difference between the two surgery groups in terms of baseline AMH, E2, FSH, LH, and AFC (all P > 0.05). There was no difference in potential bias factors, including patient age, operative time, and blood loss (all P > 0.05). There was also no significant difference between the two groups 3 months after surgery with respect to AMH (P = 0.763), E2 (P = 0.264), FSH (P = 0.478), LH (P = 0.07), and AFC (P = 0.061). Similarly, there were no differences between groups 9 months after surgery for AMH (P = 0.939), E2 (P = 0.137), FSH (P = 0.276), LH (P = 0.07) and AFC (P = 0.066). At 9 months after the operation, no patients had malignant ovarian tumors. The incidences of benign ovarian tumors in the salpingectomy group were 0 and 2.68 % at 3 and 9 months after surgery, respectively, and the corresponding values in the control group were 0 and 5.36 %. The incidences of pelvic inflammatory disease in the salpingectomy group were 10.72 and 8.04 % at 3 and 9 months after surgery, respectively, while corresponding values in the control group were 24.13 and 16.09 %. Conclusions Prophylactic bilateral salpingectomy did not damage the ovarian reserve of reproductive-age women who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy. Prophylactic bilateral salpingectomy might be a good method to prevent the development of ovarian cancer. Larger clinical trials with longer follow-up times are needed to further evaluate the risks and benefits.

scholarly journals THE IMPACT OF ASTHMAAND ITS MEDICATIONS ON DENTAL CARIES STATUS AND STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS COUNT IN CHILDREN: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

2020 ◽  
pp. 20-23
Author(s):  
Sneha Upadhyay ◽  
Jyoti Bhavthankar ◽  
Mandakini Mandale ◽  
Nivedita Kaorey
Keyword(s):  
Dental Caries ◽  
Streptococcus Mutans ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Asthmatic Children ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Background: Asthma and its medications have been linked to oral diseases in asthmatic children. Aim: Assessment of the dental caries status, salivary Streptococcus mutans count and S. mutans colony score in children receiving inhaled anti asthmatic medications and their comparison in healthy children Material and Method: A cross-sectional study was performed on 40 asthmatic children and 40 healthy children in the age group of 6-14 years. DMFT/deft indices were calculated and saliva samples were collected. Diluted saliva was inoculated on MSB agar plates. S. mutans count and colony score were analysed after 24-48 hours of inoculation. Results: Statistically significant difference was observed in the mean DMFT/deft index, salivary S. mutans load and S. mutans colony score in children of the asthmatic group and control group. Conclusion: Prevalence of dental caries and cariogenic bacteria is higher in asthmatic children.

ANTICIPATORY ABILITY OF COACHES IN THE SYSTEM OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE EVALUATION BY ATHLETES

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 103-111
Author(s):  
Lusine Stepanyan
Keyword(s):  
Work Experience ◽  
Personal Development ◽  
Professional Competence ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Perceptual Evaluation ◽  
Competence Evaluation ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Impact

Current research in psychology and psychophysiology focuses on the subject of anticipation and forecasting. Anticipatory sustainability is a personal trait that determines the ability to anticipate events and possible ways of personal development, as well as the ability to prevent interpersonal conflicts. The aim of the study was to identify the role of development level of anticipatory competence of coaches in their professional competence evaluation and perception by athletes. Research methods and organization. The research involved two groups of test subjects. The experimental group consisted of sport dance coaches and their students. The control group brought together experts in socionomic area with different work experience. We used testing and questionnaire methods to achieve the goal and objectives of the study. Testing method included the test for diagnosing anticipatory sustainability according to A. Mendelevich and the test of socio-perceptual coaching evaluation by athletes. We used the results of testing and questionnaires to provide a comparative and correlation analysis of data. Research results. The analysis of test results revealed the impact of work experience on the development of both spatial and temporal characteristics of the anticipation of coaches, indicating a possible effect on the intensity and direction of development of those characteristics in specific conditions. We have identified valid connections between the gnostic parameter (professional competence evaluation) of the socio-perceptual coaching evaluation by athletes and spatiotemporal characteristics of coaches' anticipation, defined as professionally important qualities of coaches. Moreover, we have demonstrated a weak direct relationship between the personality-situational component of the anticipatory sustainability of coaches and the emotional parameter of their socio-perceptual evaluation by athletes, indicating a significant role of communicative-anticipation sustainability in the development of an attitude of athletes to the coach. Conclusion. In summary, we can conclude that the anticipatory sustainability of coaches plays a key role in the structure of their competence, and the development of this property is possible under certain conditions.

Role of diffusion tensor imaging in the evaluation of ulnar nerve involvement in leprosy

2021 ◽  
pp. 20210290
Author(s):  
Ankita Aggarwal ◽  
Chandan Jyoti Das ◽  
Neena Khanna ◽  
Raju Sharma ◽  
Deep Narayan Srivastava ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
Peripheral Neuropathy ◽  
Ulnar Nerve ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Cross Sectional Area ◽  
Ulnar Neuropathy ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Sectional Area ◽  
Cross Sectional

Objective: Early detection of peripheral neuropathy is extremely important as leprosy is one of the treatable causes of peripheral neuropathy. The study was undertaken to assess the role of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in ulnar neuropathy in leprosy patients. Methods: This was a case–control study including 38 patients (72 nerves) and 5 controls (10 nerves) done between January 2017 and June 2019. Skin biopsy proven cases of leprosy, having symptoms of ulnar neuropathy (proven on nerve conduction study) were included. MRI was performed on a 3 T MR system. Mean cross-sectional area, fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of ulnar nerve at cubital tunnel were calculated. Additional ancillary findings and appearance of base sequences were evaluated. Results: Ulnar nerve showed thickening with altered T2W signal in all the affected nerves, having an average cross-sectional area of 0.26 cm2. Low FA with mean of 0.397 ± 0.19 and high ADC with mean of 1.28 ± 0.427 x 10 −3 mm2/s of ulnar nerve in retrocondylar groove was obtained. In the control group, mean cross-sectional area was 0.71cm2 with mean FA and ADC of 0.53 ± 0.088 and 1.03 ± 0.24 x 10 −3 mm2/s respectively. Statistically no significant difference was seen in diseased and control group. Cut-off to detect neuropathy for FA and ADC is 0.4835 and 1.1020 × 10 −3 mm2/s respectively. Conclusion: DTI though is challenging in peripheral nerves, however, is proving to be a powerful complementary tool for assessment of peripheral neuropathy. Our study validates its utility in infective neuropathies. Advances in knowledge: 1. DTI is a potential complementary tool for detection of peripheral neuropathies and can be incorporated in standard MR neurography protocol. 2. In leprosy-related ulnar neuropathy, altered signal intensity with thickening or abscess of the nerve is appreciated along with locoregional nodes and secondary denervation changes along with reduction of FA and rise in ADC value. 3. Best cut-offs obtained in our study for FA and ADC are 0.4835 and 1.1020 × 10 −3 mm2/s respectively.

Diversity and data: an ontology of race and ethnicity in the British Film Institute’s Diversity Standards

2020 ◽  
pp. 016344372096092
Author(s):  
Clive James Nwonka
Keyword(s):  
Race And Ethnicity ◽  
Film Industry ◽  
Racial Diversity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Diversity And Inclusion ◽  
Film Productions ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Production Areas ◽  
The Impact

This article addresses the role of data in the analysis of racial diversity in the UK film industry. Due to the prolonged poor representation of racial difference, academic researchers increasingly identify the UK film sector as a particular site of multi-dimensional structural inequalities. This article will assess the impact of data-led interventions made by the UK film industry to increase the presence of BAME individuals within the sector. It will do this through an analysis of the policy approach of the UK’s lead body for film, the British Film Institute, examining how one major policy initiative, the BFI’s Diversity Standards launched in 2016 as an industry intervention into prevailing sector inequalities, has sought to achieve racial diversity and inclusion across its Film Fund-supported film productions between 2016 and 2019. Analysing cross-sectional data from 235 films which is aggregated across differing film genres, budgets and regions, the study assesses how the outcomes of the Diversity Standards have offered a representation of racial diversity across these production areas.

scholarly journals The Trabecular Bone Score as a Predictor for Thalassemia-Induced Vertebral Fractures in Northeastern Thailand

Anemia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Nattiya Teawtrakul ◽  
Sukanya Chukanhom ◽  
Suranut Charoensri ◽  
Charoonsak Somboonporn ◽  
Chatlert Pongchaiyakul
Keyword(s):  
Trabecular Bone ◽  
Vertebral Fractures ◽  
Trabecular Bone Score ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Mineral Density ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Bmd Testing ◽  
Northeastern Thailand

Introduction. Thalassemia bone disease is one of the disease-related complications in patients with thalassemia. Prevalence of fractures and the role of a trabecular bone score (TBS) as a predictive factor for fractures were evaluated in patients with thalassemia. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with thalassemia aged ≥18 years at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. A lateral thoracolumbar radiograph and bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine and hip, as well as the TBS measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), were evaluated in all patients. Results. Among 86 patients, 14 patients were found to have radiographic vertebral fracture yielding a prevalence of 16.3%. All patients who had fractures were β-thalassemia/Hb E. Combined low BMD and TBS at lumbar spines and a presence of endocrinopathies were significantly associated with vertebral fractures. Conclusions. The prevalence of vertebral fractures in patients with thalassemia was not uncommon. A combined low BMD and TBS and a presence of endocrinopathies were associated with vertebral fractures. These findings suggested that BMD testing and TBS measurement have a clinical implication as a screening tool for evaluating the risk of vertebral fractures in thalassemic patients, particularly in β-thalassemia/Hb E who have endocrinopathies.

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